(a)
Workforce project after payment period— Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a workforce project to end after 3 years, the maximum period of time for which an employer may receive payments through a workforce education subsidy for a trainee, if the employer pays for the cost of the associated educational workforce training for the portion of the project after that maximum period.
(b)
Relationship to other projects— Individuals who do not meet the criteria described in section 2(8)(A) may participate in projects, structured like workforce projects described in this Act, if the employer or an organization other than the Federal Government provides the necessary funding for wages or salaries, and educational workforce training.
(c)
Third-Party training entity— The Secretary may not pressure, or provide an incentive or disincentive to, an employer to choose 1 eligible entity over another as a third-party training entity. The choice of a third-party training entity shall be made entirely by an employer.
(d)
Regulations on Ratios—
(1)
Ratios— Beginning 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may issue regulations that specify 1 or more ratios, based on categories of jobs as defined by the Secretary, between the number of job openings for a prospective position, as a full-time regular employee, related to a workforce project, and the number of trainees in that project.
(2)
Objectives— In issuing the regulations, the Secretary shall consider the following objectives:
(A)
Assuring that a trainee has a reasonable opportunity to be hired as a full-time, regular employee by the employer participating in the workforce project.
(B)
Ensuring that an employer’s hiring discretion is not limited in a manner that would incentivize an employer to lower standards for a position that is particularly difficult or dangerous.
(e)
Criteria— The Secretary may establish criteria regarding technical matters and provide technical assistance for meeting the requirements of this Act.
(f)
Required regulations— Regulations required under this Act shall be issued by the corresponding officer within 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, except as otherwise specified.